DWEEZIL ZAPPA - THE TORTURE NEVER STOPS

A new track released by Dweezil Zappa !
Well, not exactly 'new', but you know what I mean.

Out on YouTube and also available from Dweezil's website:

NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK & THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND

 A message from Ed Palermo:

Big band, little band. Take your pick! Two chances to catch some unbelievable music with special guest Napoleon Murphy Brock (Frank Zappa, George Duke). See you there!

THE RESIDENTS' "THE WAY WE WERE" GETS AN EXPANDED RE-RELEASE

The Residents' "The Way We Were" gets an expanded re-release on the Klanggalerie label.

https://www.klanggalerie.com/gg517

NEW RELEASE BY YIN YIN

New release by Yin Yin, "Yatta!"
Album number four for this Dutch band.

AISLES TO TOUR THE U.K. IN NOVEMBER

Chilean progressive rock band Aisles are set to bring their powerful live show to the UK this November with a five-date mini tour that will highlight their distinctive blend of emotion, musicianship, and contemporary prog.

Tour Dates:
Nov 9 – Bannerman’s – Edinburgh
Nov 11 – The 1865 – Southampton
Nov 12 – The Fiddler’s Elbow – Camden, London
Nov 13 – Corporation – Sheffield
Nov 14 – HRH Prog Festival 2025 – Great Yarmouth

 

THE DEEP ENERGY ORCHESTRA

Released a couple of days ago:

"The Science of Sound" by Deep Energy Orchestra

Check it out on Bandcamp:

AN UPDATE FROM ED PALERMO

An update from Ed Palermo:

You are looking at Ed Serling and Ted Beethoven. I even dyed my hair black for the role. We mashed up four Twilight Zone episodes with the tragic life of Ludwig Van Beethoven. Not an easy feat. Of course, I played fast and loose with the facts concerning his life but hey, it’s my style.

The set list:
The Falcon, Marlboro, NY
OCTOBER 25, 2025-TWILIGHT ZONE #2

TWILIGHT ZONE THEME
MIRACULOUS MANDERIN (Bartok)
FUR ELISE (Beethoven)
DOG BREATH/ANDY (Zappa)
MINUET IN G (Beethoven)
BIG EYED BEANS FROM VENUS (Captain Beefheart)
BEETHOVEN’S 7th (Beethoven)
ALLEGRO BARBARO (Bartok)
BLACK SABBATH (Black Sabbath)
ALLEGRO BARBARO/THE BARBARIAN reprise (Bartok/Emerson, Lake and Palmer)
BLACK SABBATH reprise (Black Sabbath)

CLOSE TO YOU (The Carpenters)
SOFA (Zappa)

DAYBREAK EXPRESS/THE TRAIN KEPT A ROLLIN (Duke Ellington/Yardbirds)
BODDHISATVA (Steely Dan)
TAKE THE LAST A TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE (Monkees/Duke Ellington)
DAYDREAM BELIEVER (Monkees)
MUNSTERS THEME (sitcom theme)

HOLD YOUR HEAD UP (Argent)
WAKA JAWAKA (Zappa)
HOLD YOUR HEAD UP reprise (Argent)
WAKA JAWAKA reprise (Zappa)

(encore)
WHITER SHADE OF DESPERADO (Procol Harum/Eagles)
BLOODY WELL RIGHT (Supertramp)
MIRACULOUS MANDERIN reprise (Bartok)

NEW SOFT WORKS ALBUMS TO BE RELEASED ON CD IN JAPAN

Last month, the Moonjune Records label announced "Abracadabra In Tokyo" by Soft Works.
The album is out on Bandcamp, but will soon be released on CD in Japan. (in UHQCD / ultimate high quality CD format)

Recorded on tour in Japan in 2003, this is the best of the third night in Tokyo.

• ELTON  DEAN saxello, alto sax, Fender Rhodes
• ALLAN  HOLDSWORTH guitar
• HUGH  HOPPER bass guitar
• JOHN  MARSHALL drums

ZAPPANALE BAND ANNOUNCEMENT - THE LOVERS OF INVENTION

THE LOVERS OF INVENTION

The Lovers of Invention are a tribute band from South London who revive Frank Zappa's music with a focus on jazz-rock fusion and progressive rock. The band strives to authentically reproduce Zappa's original sound while capturing the spirit of his live improvisations.

They play a mixture of blues, progressive rock and jazz, inspired by Frank Zappa.

Six to eight musicians and is one of the finest young jazz talents in the UK.

• Ben Vize - keyboards, backing vocals and arrangements
• Jonah Hitchens - Guitar and lead vocals
• Adam Chinery - Lead guitar and backing vocals
• Jonny Mansfield - Vibraphone
• Emma Rawicz-Szczerbo - Tenor saxophone and flute
• James Wade-Sired - Trombone
• Flo Moore - Bass
• Zoe Pascal - Drums

MAGMA CONCERTS ANNOUNCED

Magma in concert.
5 days in a row.
At Le Triton, Paris.

https://www.letriton.com/programmation

NEW RELEASE BY JONO EL GRANDE

Jono El Grande has just released "The Oslofjord".
Bandcamp digital download / streaming album.

 

ORKEST DE EREPRIJS

Orkest / Orchestra De Ereprijs is a Dutch 15-piece contemporary ensemble (based in Apeldoorn).

Recorded in concert in 2014, and put on YouTube in 2016, they performed Frank Zappa's 'Bamboozled By Love':

The same Orkest De Ereprijs has released several albums.
No Zappa tunes to be found there, unfortunately, but they did record a composition by Corrie van Binsbergen for their "Museumtour 2023" album.

BILL FRISELL TRIO - - - LEVERKUSENER JAZZTAGE 2023

• Bill Frisell - guitar
• Thomas Morgan - bass
• Rudy Royston - drums

REMEMBER THE ZAPPA KICKSTARTER PROJECT ?

Remember the "Who The F*@% Is Frank Zappa? Save The Vault!" kickstarter project?

One of the goodies (when donating a certain amount) was "The Zappa Movie Official Soundtrack Album!".
Unfortunately, at the time, one had to chose between an LP or a CD. A missed opportunity for the organizers to get some extra funding, I would say, as some people do like to have both editions.

Anyway, copies of both the LP and the CD are turning up left and right, but they're far from cheap.
The same goes for the soundtrack EP that got released at the same occasion (but you had to pledge a bit more to get that one).

-

ZAPPANALE BAND ANNOUNCEMENT - - - OCTAFISH

From the Zappanale newsletter:

🎶 Zappanale #35 in preparation

The next Zappanale is just around the corner.
Today we are introducing the first two bands, with more to follow in each newsletter.

 Back with us at last by popular demand:

OCTAFISH

Energy-charged music and pure contradiction, danceable, intricate tracks, precisely composed and improvised;
Mathematically constructed grooves and melody snippets – planned well in advance – fired off spontaneously;
Emotionally weird soundscapes with heart-warming and goose-bump-inducing;
Hypnotic grooves & extraterrestrial melodies;
Handcrafted & electronic.
And yet: it sounds like jazz.

The music magazine Jazzpodium speaks of a ‘daring soundscape’ and rates the music as ‘experimental extra class’

INDUSTRIAL FAKE JAZZ is the name the band itself has given to its sound: rock cascades à la King Crimson, the musical humour of Frank Zappa, fake jazz sounds reminiscent of the New York experimental scene. It's a mixture that has already won international acclaim, leading to collaborations with former Zappa guitarist Mike Keneally.

-

OCT 18, 2024 - - - THE RESIDENTS IN GENEVE

 

HARRY THE HIRSCH - DABEI SEIN IST ALLES

• Harry The Hirsch: Dabei Sein Ist Alles
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp / l33k5p1n 84574rd5 )
      (2024, cdr, Germany, l33k5p1n 84574rd5)

Originally released on cassette in 1981, Harry The Hirsch’s “Dabei Sein Ist Alles” got re-released on L33K5P1N‘s label in 2024.
The album included a piece entitled ‘Als Ich Gegen Frank Zappa Spielte (Rat Tomago)’, a distorted guitar solo.

L33K5P1N added
‘Als Ich Gegen Frank Zappa Spielte (Rat Tomago)’ included ‘Rat Tomago’ in complete; overlayed with other guitar noises; recorded in 1981.

The album got (re-)released on Bandcamp, and was also made available on CDR.
The CDR version was limited to 10 copies. Jewel case + obi.
It looks amazing.

PANZERPAPPA - LANDSBYSLADDER

• Panzerpappa: Landsbysladder
      (2025, cd, --, apollon records)

"Landsbysladder", the latest CD by Panzerpappa arrived last week.
Instrumental jazz-rock / prog / fusion with beautiful melodies and arrangements.
The 'deluxe' edition comes with a 50+ page book with short stories, pictures and selection of scores.

Recommended !!

PER W / PAWLOWSKI - INSIDER / OUTSIDER

• Per W / Pawlowski: Insider / Outsider
      (2019, cd, --, jezusfactory records / starman records)

Released five years ago, "Insider / Outsider", the fine collaboration between Kloot Per W and Mauro Pawlowski.
Pop music, just not the kind you hear on the radio.

Time to give it another spin !

(Also out on Bandcamp.)

BRETT SPIVEY ANNOUNCED A LISTENING PARTY FOR HALLOWEEN 2025

Brett Spivey just announced a Listening Party for Halloween 2025 - The Festival of Samhain:

Friday, October 31, 2025 at 12:00 AM EDT

https://brettspivey.bandcamp.com/merch/halloween-2025-the-festival-of-samhain-listening-party

🎃 Festival of Samhain: A Halloween Listening Ritual Premieres at Midnight on Halloween Morning — exclusively on Bandcamp Step into the shadows and join me for the Festival of Samhain, a midnight listening experience honoring the ancient turning of the seasons. This is not for the faint of heart—or for those who shy away from the strange and unsettling. This collection is an experiment in sound design, weaving tension, atmosphere, and distortion into an immersive ritual of noise and stillness. Some will find it hauntingly beautiful. Others may find it deeply unnerving. Either way—you’ll feel it. Share it with those who embrace the eerie, the obscure, and the unknown. Happy Samhain.

AN UPDATE FROM THE RESIDENTS

Hi chums!

Can it really be that November is almost upon us? The nights draw in, the falling leaves begin to turn the world upside down again and Christmas begins to feel inevitable. So that's a yes.

The Residents are indifferent to the Fall - they so rarely go outside it really doesn't matter to THEM, but this year is different because, after only forty-five years in the planning, they'll be spending the next two months preparing their ESKIMO world tour! It all begins in suitably wintery Vancouver on also suitably wintery January 8th, and as ever residents.com/tourdates is the place to be when it comes to dates and tickets. Rest assured European dates will follow shortly, and maybe even Japanese dates too, but you didn't hear that from us.

https://residents.com/tourdates/ 

In the meantime, you might like to fill the intervening couple of months with the soon-to-be-classic 'Leftovers (1970-1988)' compilation, which is released next Friday, October 31st. Packed with alternate takes and mixes, lost material and other weird stuff spanning those years, it's next level stuff, all of which was discovered in a long-forgotten annex to The Residents' storage space in 2023. Nobody believes that story, but it's entirely true - this stuff was almost lost for good. Phew! It's available to pre-order in all the usual places, but as ever we recommend you check it out right HERE:

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/the-residents-leftovers-1970-1988-2cd 

As I type, The Residents are also working hard to put together their own brand-spanking-new Bandcamp site, full of curios, unreleased stuff, rarities you may have missed and whatever else catches their attention. Of particular interest the site will see the debut of the full 'Hunters' OST material, of which there are several hours. It should, if all goes to plan, be quite exciting.

https://ralphlet.bandcamp.com/

Meanwhile, The Residents continue to work on their next album, which people around them are calling "their dirty-naughty album", as well as a proposed new theatre piece. So next year promises to be an interesting one - watch this space for more news as it comes in. And if you can't wait that long and need MORE RESIDENTS NOW then do not fear - the guys have put together another of their 'Hunters' orientated mini-albums just for you. Something of a sampler for the forthcoming Bandcamp tsunami which, for obvious reasons, they're calling 'I Know An Old Lady.....'. 

(subscribe to The Residents' newsletter over at Cherry Red Records to get the link !)

As ever, please enjoy responsibly, be kind to friends and neighbours, keep that third eye well squeegeed and, most importantly of all, BUY OR DIE.

Your pals @ New Ralph Too

FRANK ZAPPA - HALLOWEEN '78 HIGHLIGHTS

Next to the box, and the 2 LP sets, FZ's "Halloween '78" will also get a single CD release, presenting the highlights.

I haven't received my copy of the CD yet, but let me share with you the promo text that can be found on several websites:

Universal has released a compact disc containing highlights from the legendary three-and-a-half-hour show that took place on Halloween night in 1978 at the Palladium in New York, mixed and mastered by Ahmet Zappa using the original 24-track tapes: the choice fell on 13 tracks that mix long improvisations with prized and historic pieces from Frank Zappa's catalogue such as “Don't Eat The Yellow Snow”, “Camarillo Brillo”, 'St. Alphonzo's Pancake Breakfast' and “Black Napkins/The Deathless Horsie”, as well as new tracks such as “Dancin” Fool' (released the following year on “Sheil Yerbouti”). On stage with the bandleader, singer and guitarist that evening were drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (replacing Terry Bozzio), bassists Arthur Barrow and Patrick O'Hearn (on fretless), keyboardists Tommy Mars and Peter Wolf, percussionist Ed Mann and guitarist/singer Denny Walley (slide specialist), while Indian violinist L Shankar was a guest on “Black Napkins”: protagonists of a show that renewed a tradition dear to the New York audience and to Zappa on the occasion of his favourite holiday of the year, and which is considered by fans and historians to be the seal of an era, given that when the event resumed in the early 1980s, the atmosphere would never be the same again. The package includes a booklet and rare shots by renowned photographer Lynn Goldsmith.

ART SPIEGELMAN QUOTED FRANK ZAPPA

Kjell Knudde, on Facebook:

In this documentary about comic artist of Art Spiegelman (of 'Maus' fame), released earlier this year, Spiegelman quotes from Zappa's 'I Can't Happen Here' during a public meeting, describing the current state in his country. See from the 1:25:40 mark. 🙂

LITTLE FEAT DELUXE RE-ISSUE

Rhino Records is releasing a deluxe edition / re-issue of Little Feat's "The Last Record Album".
Due out on October 24, 2025.

When ordered at the Rhino store, the 4 CD deluxe set will come with a bonus release:
"Live At Charlton Athletic Football Ground London, England, 5/31/76"
(when Lowell George was still in the band)

• Little Feat: Live At Charlton Athletic Football Ground London, England, 5/31/76
      (2025, cd, USA, rhino records)

EDDIE JOBSON JAPAN TOUR 2026

Eddie Jobson - UK Revisited Japan Tour 2026,

featuring the master himself on keyboards and violin, Mike Keneally on guitar, Marc Bonilla on vocals and bass guitar, and Marco Minnemann on drums.

February 24 - Tokyo (Billboard Live TOKYO)
February 25 - Yokohama (Billboard Live YOKOHAMA)
February 27 - Osaka (Billboard Live OSAKA)

After Japan, the same band will perform a few shows at the Cruise to the Edge.

 

THE ROTATIONS

Flashback to Cucamonga in the early sixties.

The Rotations was another name that Paul Buff and Dave Aerni used when they were not recording as The Bongo Teens.
Recorded in Paul Buff's studio in 1962, later to become Frank Zappa's 'Studio Z'.

I'm always glad to add another Cucamonga-related release to the collection.
Frank Zappa used the first bars of the "Heavies" track in 'Nasal Retentive Calliope Music' on the Mothers Of Invention album "We're Only In It for the Money".

1 minute an 50 seconds into the piece:

The 7" in question:
The Rotations: Heavies / The Cruncher

EMMA RAWICZ

Enjoying Emma Rawicz & Gwilym Simcock's "Big Visit" while checking the upcoming concert dates.

• 30 October @ JazzONZE+ Festival, Lausanne, Switzerland
   w/Emma Rawciz 4tet ft. Elliot Galvin, Kevin Glasgow and Asaf Sirkis
  
  
• 07 November @ LantarenVenster, Rotterdam, Netherlands
   w/INKYRA ft. Scottie Thompson, David Preston, Kevin Glasgow and Jamie Murray
  
  
• 08 November @ Brighton Dome, Brighton
   w/INKYRA ft. Scottie Thompson, David Preston Gareth Lockrane, Kevin Glasgow and Jamie Murray
  
  
• 13 November @ Leverkusener Jazztage, Germany
   w/INKYRA ft. Scottie Thompson, David Preston, Kevin Glasgow and Jamie Murray
  
  
• 16 November @ Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London
   w/INKYRA ft. Scottie Thompson, David Preston Gareth Lockrane, Kevin Glasgow and Jamie Murray
  
  
• 08 December @Jazz in Wageningen, Netherlands duo with Gwilym Simcock
  
  
• 13 December @ Jazz Montez, Frankfurt, Germany duo with Gwilym Simcock
  
  
• 14 December @ Le Singe, Biel, Switzerland duo with Gwilym Simcock

THE WSR - DIMELO

 A message from The WSR:

"DIMELO" Second Single from our third album "ZENITH DRIFT" out November 7, 2025

THE JAZZ STATION BIG BAND

For the past hour or so, I've been listening to two recent albums by The Jazz Station Big Band.
In other words, I have been submerged in uplifting music.
Nothing wrong with that. 

• The Jazz Station Big Band & Grégoire Maret: Live In Dinant
      (2021, cd, Belgium, hypnote records)

• The Jazz Station Big Band: Moods
      (2021, cd, Belgium, hypnote records)

Recommended !

Here's a piece from "Live In Dinant", with Grégoire Maret on harmonica !!

KLOOT PER W / INTIGE TALUURE - SOMETIMES WEAK AT THE KNEES

• Kloot Per W / Intige Taluure: Sometimes Weak At The Knees
      (2025, cd, Belgium, private release / bananafishin' records)

Intige Taluure, featuring Jean-Marie Mievis and Kim Duchateau, stands for home-made dadaist pop with lots of freedom and an adventurous spirit.
Add 'lo-fi' and 'experimental' and you'll get even closer to what to expect.

For "Sometimes Weak At The Knees", the Intige Taluure duo teamed up with musical chameleon Kloot Per W.

Fun !

UNIVERS ZERO - LIVE AT THE TRITON 2009

• Univers Zero: Live At The Triton 2009
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2025, cd+dvd, Belgium, sub rosa)
  

The Belgian Sub Rosa record label has just released a Univers Zero 2009 concert.
Recorded at Le Triton in Paris.

In 2009, the Triton venue (near Paris, France) was sold out to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Univers Zero, an iconic band of the Rock In Opposition movement. These two exceptional concerts highlighted a radical and unique style of music, at the crossroads of new music and chamber rock, skilfully blending acoustic and electric instruments, as heard on the cult album 'Ceux du Dehors'.

Around Daniel Denis (drums, composition), Michel Berckmans (oboe, bassoon), and Andy Kirk (keyboards and guitar), three historical figures of the group, complemented by four other talented musicians, offered an intense multimedia show, intertwining a condensed version of key pieces from the repertoire with more recent compositions. These concerts were part of a key phase in which the band offered one of its most accomplished line-ups, taking the opportunity to establish its sound and image.

Intense. Beautiful.

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

DAVID LEE ROTH BOX SET FEATURING STEVE VAI

David Lee Roth's "The Warner Recordings 1985 - 1994" collects exactly what it says, which implies that it includes albums that feature Steve Vai !

I mentioned it a little while ago alread, but it seems like it's finally out.
Released as a "5 LP in slipcase" set.

ARTHUR BARROW - BRAIN BURRITO

Arthur Barrow has just released 'Brain Burrito' on Bandcamp.
It's a track from his 2003 "On Time" album.

Composed, produced, engineered, and performed by

• Arthur Barrow
  with help from:
• Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
• Robert Williams - cowbell tree
• Larry Klimas - flute
• Kahlil Sabbagh - vibes

PANZERPAPPA & DJONNE WITH GUESTS - SKJERINGSPUNKT

• Panzerpappa & Djønne With Guests: Skjeringspunkt
      (2024, cd, Norway, private release / panzerpappa)

From the liner notes:

What would you get if you pair playful and melodic avant-rock with lyrical folk music? Panzerpappa, a Norwegian instrumental prog rock band, wanted to find out.

Next to the Panzerpappa instrumentation, "Skjeringspunkt", featured some unusual instruments. Especially in a progressive rock context:

• Rannveig Djønne: Diatonic accordion
• Silje Hveem Lofthus: Soprano & piccolo flute
• Veronika Hørve Jensen: Vocals
• Ola Mil Bruland: Euphonium

The result  sounds quite pleasant. Did someone use the word 'poetic'?

CLINKADELIC - TALES FROM THE CRIMSON ZONE OF FUNKATIVITY

Clinkadelic is one of (German-based) L33K5P1N's projects.

Clinkadelic uses artificial intelligence to produce P-Funk.
For the three volumes of "Tales From The Crimson Zone Of Funkativity",  L33K5P1N went for "Joe's Garage"-like lyrics.

Most of the AI generated music that I've encountered sounds like rubbish, but I do like "Tales From The Crimson Zone".
This is a lot of fun.
A fine project !!

And for those who are into this kind of thing (like me !), L33K5P1N produced beautiful CDR copies of the series ! (jewel case & obi).

-

-

THE SUN RA ARKESTRA - - - OCTOBER 22, 1987 WARSAW POLAND

 Both the T.U.B.E. (The Ultimate Bootleg Experience) website and the Guitars101 website are mentioning a Sun Ra Arkestra live video recording from 1987, Warsaw, Poland.

https://theultimatebootlegexperience7.blogspot.com/2017/04/sun-ra-arkestra-1987-10-22-warsaw.html

Here's the low res YouTube version:

-- link: Jan van Kemenade

STICK MEN UPDATE

 a message from Markus Reuter:

Just a quickie: The STICK MEN UMEDA live album is available for only 2 EUR for a limited period of time:

stickmen.bandcamp.com/album/umeda

Also, here are the upcoming Stick Men shows:

• Tony Levin: Chapman Stick, Voice 
• Pat Mastelotto: Acoustic and Electronic Drums & Percussion 
• Markus Reuter: Touch Guitars@ U8 Custom, Soundscapes

Nov 30/25 Rickshaw Theatre, 254 East Hastings, Vancouver, BC
Dec 1/25 Star Theater, 13 NW 6th Ave, Portland, OR
Dec 2/25 The Triple Door, 216 Union St, Seattle, WA
Dec 3/25 WOW Hall, 291 W 8th Ave, Eugene, OR
Dec 4/25 Whiteside Theatre, 361 SW Madison Ave, Corvallis, OR
Dec 6/24 Wild Hare Tavern, Arcata, CA
Dec 7/25 Starlet Room, 2708 J St., Sacramento, CA
Dec 8/25 Mystic Theatre, 23 Petaluma Blvd. No., Petaluma, CA
Dec 9/25 UCSC Music Center, 402 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA
Dec 10/25 Frank's Place, 1432 Fulton St, Fresno, CA
Dec 11/25 Gold Diggers, 5632 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Dec 14/25 The Bornemann Theater, 555 Deer Springs Rd, San Marcos, CA
Dec 16/25 Walter Studios, 747 W Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ

ADDITIONAL INFO ON THE UPCOMING MERIDIAN ARTS ENSEMBLE / THE ZAPPA HOUSE CONCERT ALBUM

A recording of a concert at the Zappa house in 1996, for Gail, the Zappa family, and friends.

https://www.meridianartsensemble.com/zappa-house-concert

ZAPPANALE NEWSFLASH

Announced for next year's Zappanale: 

Octafish

The Lovers Of Invention

PETE ROTH TRIO TOURDATES

The Pete Roth Trio - PRT featuring Bill Bruford (drums), Pete Roth (guitar), Mike Pratt (bass) is playing a bunch of shows starting this coming Tuesday until March 9.

OCT 21 - Karlsruhe, Germany (Tollhaus)
OCT 22 - Weingarten, Germany (Kulturzentrum Linse e.V.)
OCT 23 - München, Germany (Jazzclub Unterfahrt)
OCT 24 - Reichenbach am Vogtland, Germany (Bergkeller Reichenbach)
OCT 25 - Opole, Poland (Drumfest)
OCT 26 - Prague, Czech Republic (Jazz Dock)
OCT 27 - Vienna, Austria (Porgy Bess)
NOV 04 - Hastings, England (Jazz Hastings)
NOV 07 - Milano, Italy (Blue Note)
NOV 08 - Padova, Italy (Sala dei Giganti, Palazzo Liviano)
NOV 09 - Roma, Italy (Casa del Jazz)
NOV 10 - Napoli, Italy (Museo Donnaregina)
NOV 11 - Ferrara, Italy (Jazz Club Ferrara)
NOV 12 - Asti, Italia (Teatro Vittorio Alfieri)
NOV 28 - Aldershot, England (West End Center)
DEC 03 - Cardiff, Wales (Acapela Studio)
DEC 04 - Cranleigh, England (The Cranleigh Arts Centre)
DEC 05 - Bristol, England (Bristol Beacon)
JAN 30 - Newcastle, England (Gosforth Civic Theatre)
FEB 22 - Madrid, Spain (Café Berlin)
FEB 23 - Barcelona, Spain (Luz de Gas)
MARCH 4-9 - The Cruise to The Edge (Norwegian Pearl)

PRINCE - VAULT SERIES VOL. 1

• Prince: Vault Series Vol. 1
      (2024, cd3" ep bootleg, --, eye records)

I received this little CD as a gift a little while ago.
It's a bootleg 3" CD EP, presenting 4 tracks.

1. Adore (Unreleased Version)
2. 7 (E Flat Version)
3. Life O The Party (Unreleased Version)
4. All A Share Together Now

Track 3 is a so-called Camille version.
Vocals were run at a higher speed to give a higher pitch.
Apparently, Prince had prepared an entire album called "Camille".

Here's another track from the Camille period:

PANZERPAPPA - EXERCISES IN STYLE - VOLUME 1

• Panzerpappa: Exercises In Style Volume 1
      (2022, cd, Norway, private release / panzerpappa)

In 2021, Panzerappa started "Stiløvingar [Exercises in Style]" a project that still isn't finished.

This album is a work in progress and will slowly grow until it reaches 99 tracks. 99 ways of telling the same musical story. Inspired by the excellent book Exercises of Style by Raymond Queneau written in 1947.

At the moment, the project counts 32 pieces of music.
In 2022, the first 19 compositions were released on CD as "Exercises In Style - Volume 1".
Great stuff.

Here's a fine interview with one of the driving forces in Panzerpappa, Trond Gjellum:

https://theprogspace.com/progtalks/suburban-savages-trond-gjellum/

43 minutes in the interview, Trond touches upon "Exercises in Style".

RANAJIT SENGUPTA & MARCUS MILLER - - - CANTALOUPE ISLAND

From Vrije Geluiden, Dutch TV show.
2016;

Ranajit Sengupta meets Marcus Miller - Herbie Hancock 'Cantaloupe Island'

DANIEL SZWED - SPLINTER

• Daniel Szwed: Splinter
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp / rope worm)
      (2025, cd, Poland, rope worm)

From the liner notes:
Daniel Szwed presents his trademark ritual/tribal drumming with noisy electronics, pedals and DIY built instruments. Overwhelming and sultry post-industrial material.

"Splinger" presents 6 tracks: one solo piece and five collaborations.
The pulsating rhythms keep you on your toes as you will remain curious on what will come next, what direction the piece will take.
Interesting. Very intersting.

The liner notes continue:
In his explorations, he focuses on a minimalist set, seeking new textures and sound colors. He electrifies drums, venturing into technoidal forms and metallic afterimages based on rhythm. Sometimes he wraps aggressive play in grainy, drone-like layers, while at other times he touches on quasi-metal forms. He unconventionally uses percussion, builds reverb, and delves into the realms of raw techno and rough noise music. He balances on the edge of electroacoustics, metal, and industrial, setting his direction with steady sound and ritual form.

Out on CD on the Rope Worm label, but also available on Bandcamp as a download / streaming release.
The latter also implies that you can give it a listen, which you should.

EIDON - QUATTRO VARIAZIONI IBRIDO-GENERATIVE

 A new piece by Eidon:

"Quattro variazioni ibrido-generative"

PANZERPAPPA - PESTROTTEDANS

• Panzerpappa: Pestrottedans
      (2016, cd, --, altrock)
      (2016, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

About 10 years ago, Panzerpappa released "Pestrottedans", their 6th album.
It got released on the famous Italian Altrock label.

Background magazine added:
Musically the Norwegian musicians present on the seven tracks a style which has influences taken from RIO, Avant-garde, Canterbury, jazz rock and progressive rock.

I can only say that I like it.
A lot.
Check it out !

TONY LEVIN HAS ISSUED A PHOTO BOOK WITH PICTURES FROM THE RECENT BEAT TOUR

It is the best of bassist Tony Levin’s photos from the 2024 North America Tour, the 2025 Latin America Tour and the Tokyo Japan show in September 2025.

BEAT is a supergroup featuring STEVE VAI (guitar), ADRIAN BELEW (guitar, vocals), TONY LEVIN (bass guitar, Chapman stick, back vocals), DANNY CAREY (drums), and they perform the music of KING CRIMSON from the 1980s albums Discipline, Beat, and Three Of A Perfect Pair.

https://tonylevinmusic.com/the-book-of-beat

ANDY TOOMEY - CRANK

• Andy Toomey: Crank
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp / iapetus)

Crank is the sound of surrendering to the process—and discovering fully formed songs on the other side.

In just two whirlwind days in Berlin, Jacksonville-based songwriter Andy Toomey and his collaborators built the album from the ground up. 

On the first day, the musicians laid down instrumental foundations without preconceptions. On the second, Andy stepped in front of the microphone and delivered lyrics and melodies spontaneously. What might sound like chaos in lesser hands instead emerged as tight, focused, and powerful songs—each with its own character and authority.

The result is pretty impressive.
8 tracks. 8 compositions that move between pop and prog.
I like it a lot.

• Andy Toomey: Bass, Lyrics & Vox
• Markus Reuter: Touch Guitar, Electric Piano, Piano, Sampled Vox, Mellotron, Bass Synth, Synthesizer
• Bernhard Wöstheinrich: Samples & Sounds, Synthesizer
• Shawn Crowder: Acoustic Drums & Electronic Percussion

BLANCK ZAPPATH - THE LAST WALTZ (WITH STEFAN) IN STRALSUND

• Blanck Zappath: The Last Waltz (With Stefan) In Stralsund
      (2025, cd promo, Germany, private release)

Blanck Zappath, the German band that favours the music of Frank Zappa and Black Sabbath, released a second promotional album earlier this year. It got recorded in concert on February 22, 2025 at the Bühne Blechwerk in Stralsund, Germany, and also includes some bonus material.

Lots of Zappa material, 13 out of the 17 tracks, actually.
The release looks and sounds a bit like a bootleg album but that's OK.
Even with a slightly saturated sound at times.
It does give a nice impression of what Blanck Zappath is about.

THE FURIOUS BONGOS - LA PETITE TOUR-ETTE

• The Furious Bongos: La Petite Tour-ette
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp) – 2025 04
      (2025, cd, USA, private release) – 2025 07

With the increased attention for the upcoming Frank Zappa Halloween 1978 release, let me catch this opportunity to say that Frank Zappa's music is still very much alive. At least for those who want to enjoy it.
The perfect example is The Furious Bongos. One of the best Frank Zappa tribute bands I've ever heard.

If Dweezil decides that he will not tour, these guys and girls would be the perfect replacement.

You can listen to the band on YouTube as they have uploaded quite some concert recordings, but you also need to check out their "La Petite Tour-ette" album, if you haven't done so already.
I know I've mentioned this album in the past, but I gave it another spin today, and I'll be walking around with a smile on my face for the rest of the day.

Recorded during the band's (first) Canadian tour in September 2024.
Superb arrangements, with a little musical nod and reference every now and then to spice things up.

Amazing.
And there's not just the Bandcamp digital download. The band has issued "La Petite Tour-ette" on CD in a limited run of 100 copies, so grab one while they're still available.

'Inca Roads'

'Tell Me You Love Me'

And a 'goosebump' version of 'City Of Tiny Lites' !!
(with André Cholmondeley (Project/Object) and Bruce McDaniel (The Ed Palermo Big Band & Todd Rundgren) on support vocals)

'The Black Page' & 'Sofa', with Chad Wackerman on drums

FARLISE - OF MOUNTAINS, OCEAN FLOORS & SUPERMARKET AISLES

• Farlise: Of Mountains, Ocean Floors & Supermarket Aisles
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2025, cd, Spain, private release)

Mentioned a couple of times already, but I received the CD earlier this week, so I want to give it a bit of additional attention.

The Spanish Farlise ensemble released FZ’s ‘Twenty Small Cigars’ through Bandcamp on December 4, 2024, as a teaser for their upcoming album.
The actual album, “Mountains, Ocean Floors & Supermarket Aisles”, got released in August 2025 and did indeed include ‘Twenty Small Cigars’.

October 2025, the album got a CD release.
Cardboard, fold-out packaging.
It looks great and it sounds even better.

Another fine addition to The Others Of Invention collection.

MARKUS REUTER AND STEFANO CASTAGNA - SKY ON THE GROUND

• Markus Reuter and Stefano Castagna: Sky On The Ground
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp / iapetus)

Two years after having released "Sea Of Hopeless Angels", Markus Reuter and Stefano Castagna are back with "Sky On The Ground".

The liner notes explain the process:
Where SOHA was defined by compositions bound to Markus’s performances—structures set in time that could not be altered—Sky on the Ground embraces intersections, divergences, and multiple possibilities. Much of the material came from Markus’s vast archive, built over years of improvisations and solo work. Stefano approached these recordings without reverence, treating them as raw, formless matter, free of sentiment, to be molded entirely in service of a new musical vision—an idea that gradually revealed its shape and direction as the work progressed.

The guiding concept was to create concise pieces—landscapes and images—that allowed for sudden, even drastic changes of course within them. A defining spark came from Markus: the idea to use both of their voices in melodic ways, something neither artist typically explores.

The result is fascinating.
Beautiful soundscapes / compositions.

Futuristic, movie-like, dreamy,... It's all in there.

Out on LP, on CD, and as a download / streaming release on Bandcamp.
Recommended listening !

THE NECKS - DISQUIET

• The Necks: Disquiet
      (2025, 3cd, --, northern spy)

On their latest album, Australian experimental jazz trio The Necks presents four pieces of improvised jazz. Four lengthy pieces, on 3 CDs.

Shape-shifting, sometimes even against a contrary, obstinate rhythm.
Beautiful.

This is their twentieth studio recording and it marks the 39th year of the band’s existence.

CHARLES LLOYD - FIGURES IN BLUE

• Charles Lloyd: Figures In Blue
      (2025, lp, --, blue note)

"Figure in Blue" is a double album by jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd, released in October 2025, that features him in a trio with pianist Jason Moran and guitarist Marvin Sewell. The album includes new original material and re-envisioned older works, with the title track serving as a tribute to Duke Ellington. 
Very nice.

In March 2025, the legendary saxophonist Charles Lloyd convened a new trio of musical explorers with Jason Moran on piano and Marvin Sewell on guitar for his 87th birthday concert at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara and immediately brought them into the studio to record his remarkable twelfth Blue Note album, Figure In Blue. The spacious double album travels wide expanses of musical terrain from beautiful ballads to raw delta blues and includes stunning homages.

YUVAL RON TRIO UK TOUR

A message from Yuval Ron

Are you ready to catch the Yuval Ron Trio live in the UK this November? 🧑‍🚀🧑‍🚀🧑‍🚀

We are super excited about our coming tour to the UK 🇬🇧. With five concerts and one masterclass, we are going to play some of your favorite venues, including HRH Prog Festival, sharing the stage with legends like Asia, Focus and Curved Air. We also look forward very much to collaborating with our friends at Aisles and Dijakee in Southampton & London and with Long Earth in our Glasgow concert. This is a leg of our 2025-26 European tour which will cover a total of seven countries (and counting!)

Presale tickets are available for all UK shows 🎟️ Order yours today!

NOV 11 2025 Southampton, UK - 1865 TICKETS
NOV 12 2025 London, UK - Fiddler’s Elbow TICKETS
NOV 13 2025 London, UK - BIMM College (Private Workshop)
NOV 14 2025 Great Yarmouth, UK - HRH Prog #15 TICKETS
NOV 15 2025 Liverpool, UK - Capstone Theater TICKETS
NOV 16 2025 Glasgow, UK - Ivory Blacks TICKETS

GARY LUCAS & YASS BODY - HERE IS THE OCEAN

• Gary Lucas & Yass Body: Here Is The Ocean
      (2024, cd ep, France, --)

Once a member of Captain Beefheart's band, Gary Lucas has been involved in numerous projects, including working with Jeff Buckley and Gods And Monsters.
On of his more recent collaborations is with Yass Body, a French musician.

Gary Lucas and Yass Body's "Here Is The Ocean" 5 track EP got released last year already.
Both as a digital download and as a CD EP.
For some reason, it took a while to send the actual CD but it finally arrived last week.
I'm always happy with a physical copy. The only unfortunate thing about this CD EP is that I need a magnifying glass to be able to read the text on the back. Can't even make out the label...

Contrary to the Bandcamp download, the CD EP presents 12 tracks: 6 pieces of music and 6 very short audio snippets (like in-between-takes-comments & telephone messages).
Nice.
You can check it out over at Bandcamp:

ARTHUR BARROW - THE CHURCH POLICE

Arthur Barrow uploaded another piece of music to Bandcamp.

'The Church Police'

MIKE KENEALLY TALKS ABOUT HIS ZAPPA AUDITION

LUMÏ, LIVE AT THE INTO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN FESTIVAL 2025

Lumï

PANZERPAPPA'S REMASTERED RE-ISSUES

Last year, Panzerpappa made some of their older (and out of print) albums available again.

"...passer gullfisk", "Farlig Vandring", and "Hulemysteriet" got remastered and re-issued on CD in limited editions of 100 copies each.

I received my copies a couple of days ago. Beautiful.
Available on Bandcamp, both as digital download / streaming albums and on CD.

-

-

FRANK ZAPPA'S BABY SNAKES GUITAR

Ahmet Zappa & Bart Nagel (the person who sold FZ the SG guitar)

https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/frank-zappa-baby-snakes-sg-auction

 

ARTHUR BARROW - THRENODY

Arthur Barrow has just released 'Threnody' on Bandcamp, a piece from his 1991 "Music For Listening" album.

 

SAMMY HAGAR - THE RESIDENCY

Released a couple of days ago.
Sammy Hagar's "The Residency" album features:

• Sammy Hagar – vocals
• Michael Anthony – bass, vocals
• Joe Satriani – guitars
• Kenny Aronoff – drums
• Rai Thistlethwayte – keyboards, guitar, background vocals

-

THE VEGETARIANS - UNCLE MEATLESS FAVORITE RECIPES

• The Vegetarians: Uncle Meatless Favorite Recipes
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Hans Annellsson gathered a fine selection of musicians to record another Frank Zappa tribute album.
An excellent album, if I may say so.

Some of the songs have been previously released, as separate tracks, or on compilations or tribute albums, but this is a superb collection.

Check it out at, and if you only want to go for one track, try 'What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?'

SUN RA ARKESTRA - LIVE AT PIT-INN, TOKYO, JAPAN

• Sun Ra Arkestra: Live At Pit-Inn, Tokyo, Japan
      (2024, 2cd, Japan, super fuji discs / diw)

It's hard to keep track of the ever expanding Sun Ra discography, but that doesn't imply one shouldn't keep on trying.

Last year, the Super Fuji Discs record label re-released "Live At Pit-Inn", an album that had previously been released on a single CD in 1988.
Bonus material, remastered, and and excellent concert.

ARF DOSSIER 125

the arf-dossier no.125 - 2020/09 incl.

• leserpost
• the hot platters heaven from the arf office
• the greenaway essays - diva magika
• the fine but unauthorized cd kaleidoscope
• the rare pictures gallery
• zappanale 34 - ein rückblick
• pilgrimage to zappanale
• frank out! news
• news from belgium - live from United Mutations

Not a member yet? Subscribe at http://arf-society.com/en/

VARIOUS ARTISTS - DISCOVERING DUTCH ENSEMBLES

• Various Artists: Discovering Dutch Ensembles
      (2005, 4cd promo, The Netherlands, radio Netherlands music)

The first volume of “Discovering Dutch Artists” was released as a 4 CD box set in 2005.
It included a recording of the performance of Frank Zappa’s ‘The Black Page Suite’ by the Calefax Reed Quintet, in an arrangement of Benedict Weisser, recorded on March 4, 2005, at De Doelen in Rotterdam, in The Netherlands.

4 CDs, in a box, with a 40-page booklet.

I knew about the concert but I did not know that it had been recorded. Let alone released on CD...

Calefax Reed Quintet

o The Black Page Suite (arr. B. Weisser)

 The Black Page

 No.7

 No.6 (Jumbo Go Away)

 No.9

 Interlude from Fembot In A Wet T-Shirt Contest

THE ART OF TIME ENSEMBLE

Toronto's Art Of Time Ensemble,
performing Frank Zappa's 'The Black Page Suite'
Recorded live in concert, February 20, 2016 at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre

-

-

JOHN & YOKO / PLASTIC ONO BAND - POWER TO THE PEOPLE

• John & Yoko / Plastic Ono Band: Power To The People
      (2025, 9cd + 3blu-ray, --, universal)

The “Power To The People” 9 CD / 3 Blu-Ray deluxe set presents new mixes in HD Stereo, 5.1 and Dolby Atmos. The box also contains a 204 page hardcover book, postcards, sticker sheets, a newsprint poster and a VIP envelope with replicas of 2 concert tickets, backstage pass and an after show pass

The box has a lenticular image on the cover, showing John Lennon when looking from one angle and Yoko Ono when looking from the other angle.

A big part of this box set is material from the concerts recorded on 30 August 1972 at Madison Square Garden. The afternoon and evening gigs, dubbed The One To One Concert, were in aid of children with educational and developmental needs. They would be the only full-length shows Lennon played after The Beatles split. They were also his last public concerts with Ono.

Next to the 1972 concert recordings, this deluxe version of John Lennon & Yoko Ono’s / Plastic Ono Band's "Power To The People" box set includes John & Yoko’s 1971 jam with Frank Zappa and The Mothers as bonus material.
Previously released on “Some Time In New York City”, the jam with FZ & The Mother got recorded in concert on June 6, 1971 at the Fillmore East in New York City.

https://www.johnlennon.com/news/power-to-the-people-deluxe-box-4lp-2lp-2cd-1cd-preorder-now/

CD 7 & 8 as well as Blu-Ray 3 present the "Live Jam" material, with the blu-ray including stereo and multi-channel audio.

CD 7 / BR 3
John & Yoko / Plastic Ono Band with Frank Zappa and The Mothers
Fillmore East, New York, 6 June 1971

03. Well (Baby Please Don’t Go)
04. Jamrag [Say Please /  King Kong / Aawk]
05. Scumbag
06. Aü

FLOAT A FLOW - RESUSCITA I MORTI (INSTRUMENTAL)

• Float A Flow: Resuscita I Morti (Instrumental)
      (2020, lp, Italy, quattro bambole music qbm002)

Italian hip hop crew Float A Flow released “Resuscita I Morti” in 2018.

The album included ‘Carne Cruda’, a track that sampled FZ’s ‘Sleep Dirt’.

In 2019, an edited and reworked instrumental version of the album got released on Bandcamp. The instrumental version of ‘Carne Cruda’ still included the ‘Sleep Dirt’ sample. 

In 2020, the Quattro Bambole Music record label produced an extremely limited edition (of 10 copies) on vinyl of the “Instrumental” album.
The artwork that was used for the 2019 Bandcamp release was included as a postcard.
I was quite surprised that I come across a copy of this LP.
Another nice addition to The Others Of Invention.

To be honest, they did a fine job with the sample.

The instrumental version :

The version with the vocal part:

BEAT - LIVE

• BEAT: live
      (2025, 3cd + blu-ray + artbook), --, inside out)

The digipack version has 2 CDs ("Neon Heat Disease - Live In Los Angeles") and a blu-ray.

The deluxe edition has 3 CDs ("Neon Heat Disease - Live In Los Angeles" + "Strange Spaghetti - Live In North America), and comes in an large picture / art book.

And there's also a 3 LP version.

Great sound, with a very nice separation of the instruments!

I haven't watched the blu-ray yet, but this is a must-hear if you're in to the music of King Crimson, or if you want to hear Adrian Belew, Danny Carey, Tony Levin, or Steve Vai in action.

Superb !!

FIDO TOUR CANCELLED

A message from FIDO

Dear friends, supporters, and fans

unfortunately, we have to cancel all of our November 25 shows.

As you may have already read on social media, our dear Robert Martin, who has been touring with us as a guest and lead singer for the past three years, suffered a stroke four weeks ago. He underwent surgery and is now in rehabilitation.
Unfortunately, his condition is still not good, but we continue to hope for his full recovery.

The five remaining FiDOs are now reorganizing (and have big plans!), so we can get back on stage with a new program as soon as possible. We have already been able to book some dates in March 26, which we will announce soon.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. See you soon!

Pascal & the FiDOFiVE


FiDOplaysZAPPA with Robert Martin 2025

• 05.11.2025 CH-Köniz, Kulturhof
• 06.11.2025 CH-Basel, Parterre
• 07.11.2025 DE-Sachsenheim
• 08.11.2025 DE-Twistringen, Alte Ziegelei
• 09.11.2025 DE-Braunschweig, Roter Saal

WIGWAM

Svart Records has announced a release by Wigwam. 
"Live In Denmark 1976"

To be released in February 2026.

https://www.svartrecords.com/en/product/wigwam-live-in-denmark-1976/13827

Also from 1976 :

JAZZ STATION BIG BAND - PALINDROME

• Jazz Station Big Band: Palindrome
      (2024, cd, Belgium, step by records)

According to those who know, "Palindrome" is the Jazz Station Big Band's fourth release.
Performing pieces by Stéphane Mercier and François Decamps, next to a handful of standards, the big band features some of Belgian's top musicians. Among them, Jean-Paul Estiévenart, who you might remember from his early days, being part of The Wrong Object and even performing some Zappa material...

That being said, if you're into big band music, "Palindrome" should be on your list.

A live fragment, with sax player and composer Jeroen Van Herzeele: